Cursed Wolf II

Chapter 7: Broken Cups, Dreams and Memories

Hermione got to her second class of the day trying to keep her mind on her studies and not her fantasies. Set off to Professor Potter’s class with a clearer mind. She walked in and sat down with her diet Coke looking at her teacher,

“Hello Professor. What are we doing in class now… dreams?”

“Yeah. Have you read anything on them?” he asked as he picked little things up from the floor.

“Well, Kat has a few books on them and I told her about a dream I had a while ago. Professor, what are you doing?” she asked him.

“Picking up shattered teacups.” He looked up at her, “What did you dream?”

“A wolf was chasing after me, and then it bit me,” Hermione said, looking at the porcelain fragments-strewn floor. “What happen to the cups?”

“And how did you feel? I mean, were you scared of the wolf?”

“No, I wasn’t scared. It just ran after me, and,” she kept her eyes downcast, “bit me?” Remembering how she had wanted it to bite her and what happen after the wolf’s teeth sunk into her flesh, she blushed but felt a warm sensation growing between her thighs.

The students started to pour into the classroom, many stopping to ask Hermione if she was all right. She thanked them for their concern, said her father had had an accident but was expected to make a full recovery. Cedric came in as she spoke to Mike and sat two seats away, and avoided looking at her.

The professor stood in front of the class and asked, “Who remembers their dreams?”

Hermione raised her hand, along with a few other people. Harry asked the class what people most often dreamt about. Being naked, flying, falling, drowning, being chased, teeth falling out, and being cheated on were some of the answers given.

“Would anyone like to share a dream?” the Professor asked looking at the class.

Lavender shot her hand up eagerly “I’ve dreamt of flying. I’m on my bike and the wind is blowing so hard that my body is lifted off the bike and I fly. What does it mean?”

“Well, how do you feel when you’re on the bike? And when you’re flying? Anxious?” the teacher asked.

“I’m happy. Shocked that I’m flying but happy.”

“A bike means you’re balancing your life or in control of your life.”

Mike was laughing a lot in his seat and raised his hand saying, “I dream of drinking kegs of beer what do you suppose that means?”

“The book says you’re seeking either pleasure or escape. Beer represents happiness, fogginess, or inspiration… I’d say you’re dreaming of breaking the beer chugging record,” the professor confessed, laughing.

A few others talked about their dreams, and Professor Potter looked them up and then gave is own interpretation.

He turned to Hermione and asked, “ What did you dream about, Hermione? Care to share?”

“I dreamt I was looking out the window. It was nighttime, and I saw a shadowy figure looking up at me from underneath a street lamp or a lit sign, but I never saw his face. Every window in the house I went to, he was there. Window after window, no matter where it was, he was there and coming closer. I finally get to the front door. I saw his shadow in the side window. I grabbed the doorknob, and it was warm and it began turning in my hand and the door opened just a crack. That’s when I woke up.” Hermione recounted with tension in her voice.

Professor Potter looked at her and asked, backing up and leaning on his desk, “How did you feel?”

Hermione remembered that she had felt frightened, but excited too. “I was frightened.”

“Just frightened?” her teacher asked. “You were opening the door, do you know why?”

Hermione shook her head.

“The figure you saw maybe a part of you don’t know yet and it’s slowly emerging. It can make you frightened, but sometimes excites you,” he said, looking at her as if to calm her.

“But it was a male figure I saw,” Hermione demurred.

“Maybe you’re seeing something about yourself for the first time. A strength. A force or power you didn’t know you had inside you. Perhaps,” the teacher glanced at Cedric for a moment, “you know what you want now in life, career, family… and relationships.”

The class ended. Hermione was gathering her things when Cedric cleared his throat, “Hermione. Sorry to hear about your dad. Is he alright?”

“Yeah, he’ll be fine,” she said with little emotion, swinging her bag over her shoulder.

Cedric stood there looking at her guiltily. He whispered, “Um, Hermione sorry about the other night... It just happened. We didn’t plan it.”

The professor looked up at her from behind his desk and asked, “Hermione can you stay for a few minutes? I have some books for you to look at.”

Hermione looked at Cedric and said, “Sure Professor.”

Cedric looked angry and hissed, “He can’t ask you out you know, it’s against the rules.” And stormed out of the room.

Hermione put down her bag and walked slowly to the teacher’s desk. Her teacher was looking through a few small books, “Hermione do you remember what happened yesterday in class?”

“We read tea leaves.”

“Do you remember what you read?” he asked as he stood up.

Hermione thought for a moment. All she could remember was the phone call she made, “Not at the moment. Why?”

“You saw a heart.” He put down a pile of books, “ an owl - which means gossip scandal, which we had last night and this morning in the board meeting. You saw a knife or dagger. A knife means broken friendships, hidden enemies… I think you would agree that could be Cedric. And a dagger means warning …danger from self or others.” The professor whispered leading towards her, “You’re a danger to yourself and others if you don’t control yourself.”

“What are you talking about?” Hermione asked.

“You know what I’m talking about. You made all the teacups dance in their saucers, breaking them all. I sent the class to the library thinking it had been a ghost smashing the dishes.”

“ What are you talking about? I was here - in front of you - talking to my mother,” Hermione said.

“You were freaking out and losing control,” Harry explained.

Hermione felt scared, her heart pounding she wanted to get out of there and turned, grabbing her bag. She went for the door but it suddenly slammed shut, making Hermione jump back and feel very strange trap and vulnerable.

“Hermione you’re not leaving until we’ve talked,” Harry said, raising his voice.

Hermione turned to face her teacher. He was walking toward her. She went to the door but it wouldn’t budge.

“Who are you? What do you want from me?” she said, becoming frantic. For a fleeting moment she thought of Kat’s comment of a witch hunter or killer.

“I’m here to help you,” Harry explained, seeing she was scared. There was something in his eyes - he looked puzzled and unsure. “Let me help you remember,” he said softly, looking deeper into her eyes, into her soul, his face just inches away. Then he stepped back.

“If you want something, just ask me.” Hermione heard him say, and it was like a wall cracked and came crashing down in her head setting memories free. Hermione saw them in the forest and at the gate, and then she was in the classroom again.

“Do you want to play a game?” Harry said, and she had more memories of them playing in the forest, chasing one another, and then she was back in the room again.

She held the sides of her head as the memories played out in her mind.

“Hermione you can trust me. I’m here to help you. You’re not controlling your powers. These books will help, and I can teach you. I can keep you and anyone around you safe.” he sighed in a nervous tone he added,” Or they may put you in the hospital. They’ll tie you down and medicate you so that you can’t think or feel anything.”

“Why didn’t you say something before?” Hermione asked.

“You were in control then, and now you’re not. Just like in your chemistry class.”

“You know about that?”

“I know everything there is to know about you, Hermione,” Harry admitted.

“Everything?” she asked blushing.

“Well, almost everything.” he said with embarrassing innuendo.

“I was going to teach you spells and charms here, but after this morning I say we met in different places: the woods behind the soccer field, the lecture hall, and the library in the early hours - someplace where you can do magic without anyone seeing. Not at your dorm.”

“Why not? At night my building is empty. No one’s around.”

“You have a roommate. She might come home unexpectedly and see us making books talk.”

“Kat knows I’m a witch.” Hermione admitted, “I came home the other night after… Cedric. I broke up and everything in the place shook and rattled. I didn’t see her lying on the floor.”

“The same way you rattled and smashed the teacups. You have to calm down, otherwise you’re going to hurt someone or yourself,” Harry said.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t even know I smashed the teacups. I heard strange chimes and my heart was pounding in my ears while I was talking to my mother, but I had no idea I was making the dishes rattle and break,, ” Hermione confessed.

“The first thing we have to do is talk. What is upsetting or scaring you?” Harry asked.

“Well, my dad. I’m still shaken up about that,” Hermione said.

“Your dad is fine. He’s on the mend. If you want, I can ask Madame Pomfrey to look in on him from time to time,” Harry suggested.

“That would be great. That’s how my parents knew you: from years ago when we met,” Hermione said.

“Yes, a few years back,” Harry said.

“Why don’t I remember you?” Hermione asked.

“It’s a long story and not one that is necessary to know right now.”

“Not necessary to know?” Hermione asked, staring at him in disbelief.

“Trust me… We’ll talk about it when the time is right,” Harry explained, putting his hand on her shoulder to calm her down.

“All right,” Hermione agreed.

“Good. Your father’s fine. And Cedric?” Harry said.

“We broke up. He’s with Cho now,” Hermione replied.

Harry’s eyes dropped to the floor. Glancing ‘round at the desks, he looked guilty but relieved.

“And the newspaper job, how’s that going?” he asked curiously.

“I got the job. I just have to come up with more to write about,” Hermione told him.

“Good. I’m glad you got the job,” Harry commented.

“For tonight, read ‘A Magical World’ and ‘Introduction to the Wizarding World.’ It’s a small book, you can read it in a few hours. It’s got some spells in it, simple ones you’ve learnt before and it will come back to you,” her teacher sighed and said, “We’ll meet twice a week until Christmas, and then you’ll have to study for your classes. We’ll see how far you get.”

So, for the next few weeks Harry and Hermione met in the conference room in the library for spell practice, putting a silencing charm on the room Harry procured for her a wand and showed her how to use it. But from time to time Harry seemed professional and cold and other times very attentive.

Hermione was overwrought between the combination of all of her homework, no ideas for the newspaper which meant no money - and the extra work requisite to learn to control her feelings and her powers. She wasn’t eating or sleeping well. She was so stressed her period lasted just one day. All she thought about was her teacher - what he wasn’t telling her, but she didn’t dare ask about until the end of the term.

Harry changed their meeting place to the place in the forest where Hermione saw the ghosts, and the time to late afternoon.

“What are we doing tonight, Harry?” Hermione asked.

“Potion-making,” Harry told her.

“Why are we doing it out here?”

“Just incase you get nervous, and you start blowing things up,” he teased.

She rolled her eyes and gave a fake laugh, “Ha-ha. Not funny.”

“The fumes can be a bit much,” he clarified.

They walked deep into the forest, and Harry set up the cauldron. Hermione was looking at the two Potions books reading.

One of the books was hand written, the other printed and with notes and suggestion in them.

Hermione read the directions, and watching Harry put ingredients in one by one.

“What potion are you making?”

“Soothing draft,” her mentor said.

“Who is it for?” Hermione asked.

“Who ever needs it,” Harry explained, “ A few of my advisees go to pieces over their midterms, and I thought I might put this in their tea. The medication they’re on goes up and down, and don’t worry! I asked Madame Pomfrey. The draft won’t adversely affect the drugs, just help them calm down, concentrate, and get their confidence up. I use it sometimes myself to relax settle my nerves. Helps me get a good night’s sleep.”

“Maybe I’ll take some,” Hermione half-joked.

He looked at her with a concerned expression and added, “I was hoping you would. You haven’t been sleeping well, have you?”

“I’m all right, just really busy,” Hermione confessed.

“And the job? You haven’t written anything in weeks. Are you parents helping you out?”

“Yeah,” she admitted in a depressed tone.

“Hey, I know a job that let’s you make your own hours and pays weekly,” Harry informed her.

“Where? What job?”

“Sally’s Bath. They make their own bath oils, soaps, and lotions and things. You’re good at potions and chemistry. I bet she’d hire you in a minute,” Harry told her.

The sun had gone down and Hermione was getting cold as they stirred the potion and getting some warmth from the fire.

Harry took out several large vials and started to fill them.

Hermione watched, and suddenly she was back at her grandmother’s woods and Harry was filling small vials.
The same small vial he took out of his cabinet the day Hermione’s father was in the hospital.

“We’ve done this before, haven’t we?” Hermione asked.

Harry looked a little surprised and nodded, looking around, “Yes we have.”

“Harry?” she started. She wanted to know how close they had been. Had they like each other a lot? Had they dated? Had they been in love at all? But she changed her mind. It would feel odd if they had gone out and broken up, and she wasn’t sure if she wanted to know why.

“Yes? What is it?”

“Are there a lot of magical people around? How can you tell them apart from non-magical people?”

“Sometimes you can spot them. The ones that don’t venture into the Muggle world tend to dress a bit strangely. I don’t know how many magical people are in this world, but there’s a whole world of wizarding folk. Many travel between this world and the other.”

“Would you take me there sometime?” she asked.

He looked up at her slowly. He looked shocked, and then he smiled and blinked his eyes several times. His smile grew wider, “Yeah! Sure,” he said.

Hermione shivered. Harry quickly cleaned up the brew, and they set off back to campus. Harry gave Hermione a small vial of the calming draft, “Take a little of this before going to bed. If you don’t like the taste, you can add half a lemon without destroying the effectiveness of the potion.”

That night, she added half the potion and a wedge of lemon to her tea and sunk into bed with one of the Harry’s book in her hands. Hermione felt warmness in her belly as the lemon flavor tingled her tongue. Closing her eyes, she fell into a deep sleep soon after.

She dreamt she was in bed, and in the darkness she saw a figure. It slowly came toward the end of her bed. She felt his eyes on her, a silent call to her to stay put and stay quiet.

“Be still.”

Hermione closed her eyes felt a caress move from her hair down to her cheek, neck, gently feel her breast, belly, her mound, thigh, knee, ankle, all the way to her pointing toes. Hermione opened her eyes to look at the figure, but an animal was looking back at her. A wolf, the wolf she had dreamt about many times. His eyes glowed.

She looked around for the dark figure. He was on the other side of the room, calling the animal away from Hermione. The beast leaped at the figure in the dark, attacking him. Hermione got out of bed and looked in the moonlight where the figure had fallen. There lay Harry. His throat was ripped open and blood poured from it onto the floor. His face looked confused, and his eyes stared straight ahead.
~~

“Wake up! Hermione!” Kat yelled in her ear.

Hermione opened her eyes and looked at her roommate.

“My god Hermione, I thought you were dead,” Kat shouted in relief.

“What time is it?”

“Eight o’clock! I was going to call for the paramedic. You weren’t moving.” Kat sighed.

“Sorry, I haven’t been sleeping well. Finally got some sleep.” And she got out of bed and dressed.

Hermione went to her classes feeling very tired. She got to Harry’s class before he did and unlocked the door. She put her head down and fell asleep.

She felt pressure on her shoulder and heard a male voice speaking, “Hermione are you alright?”

She opened eyes and lifted her head to see Harry kneeling beside her.

“Harry? Sorry, must have fallen asleep.”

Harry leaned next to her ear and whispered, “How much potion did you take?”

“Half the bottle,” Hermione told him.

“I’m surprised you’re walking. Go to the lady’s room and splash some cold water on your face and neck. That should help.”

She went to the bathroom and splashed her face with cold water. It did the trick, and she returned to the class.

The teacher talked about animals the some people believe to be real like the unicorn, the hippogriff, the giant squid, dragons and griffins. The professor pointed out that, once in while, a goat or dear is deformed and has a single horn on top of its head, that marine biologists have found very large squid in the deepest parts of the ocean, and that dinosaurs, especially the pterodactyl, are often mistaken for dragons. Just as he started talking about the hippogriff, the fire alarm went off and they have to evacuate the building, cutting the class short.
~~

Hermione walked into Sally’s Bath, looking around. A woman approached her and asked, “Hi, is there anything I can help you with?”

“I was wondering if you were hiring?” Hermione asked.

“Actually, I am. I just haven’t have time to find the sign. Eh, do you know anything about soaps, oils... lotions?”

“I use them…I did well in my chemistry classes, and I know certain scents can calm or invigorate somebody, .” Hermione explained.

“Great. I need help with making bath baskets. We don’t have loads of people in here, but we get a lot ordered over the phone and from the catalogs, and now we have a website, too. I have the recipes in the back. I make them in small batches, so that I can control special orders,” Sally said.

Hermione worked every minute she could, which meant not working on the newspaper, easing her stress, and making more money to pay her bills and save for Christmas. She felt satisfied and happier with the shop job, but was not bumping into Harry as much.
~~~~

Everyone was getting ready for their final exams. Fire alarms were going off several times a day due to panicking students who felt they were not ready for the finals.

Finally, the school committee voted to have the rest of the finals after Christmas vacation because of all the interruptions. Hermione had one in each of her journalism classes, two she had already taken and a paper due for Harry’s class, which he said she could turn in after break if she needed.

Hermione wished Harry a Happy Christmas as they were walking out of the last class before the break, wanting so much to give him a kiss and a hug, but there were too many people around. They had no final just a paper to do over Christmas vacation.

Kat joined dorm mate outside the building as Hermione talk to Harry. Breaking into their conversation about her plans for Christmas break went they were coming back for their remaining exams.

So, Hermione had come back for one final after school break the first week in January before the next section started and give Harry a paper.
~~~

Hermione’s mother called to see when she was planning on coming home. “Thursday,” she told her. “I’ll get a ride from Kat and her boyfriend. She’s spending Christmas with his family. I’ll have just enough time to shop for gifts, but I have to come back to school for one more final in the first week of January, and I might have to work.”

“Oh, that’s too bad. Your father wants to go skiing. That Madame Pomfrey made your father better than new, and he’s up and around and full of energy. You tell Harry ‘thank you’ from us.”

“I will.”

Hermione was packing when Kat came in and said, “Do you think you can get a ride home from someone else?”

“Why?” Hermione

“We broke up.” Kat announced, tears in her eyes.

“Where are you going for Christmas?”

“I’m staying here. I can’t afford to go home,” Kat admitted.

“Hang on.” Hermione said as she pulled out her phone and dialed her mom’s number. It rang a few times, and she heard her mom’s voice.

“Hi, Mom. Eh, I don’t have a ride home today and,” Hermione turned her back toward Kat. “Kat doesn’t have place to go for Christmas. Will it be alright if…”

“Oh, poor girl. Of course she can come and stay with us, Hermione. Your father will be there in about two hours. I’ll see you soon,” her mother said.

Hermione and Kat sat outside their dorm waiting for Mr. Granger to arrive. Mr. Granger drove up and opened the back to his new minivan.

“What happened to your other car, Dad?” Hermione asked.

“It was totaled in the accident. The insurance paid for this one,” her father explained as he put Hermione’s bags in to the back, “Hermione how many bags are you bringing home?”

“Well, these are my clothes,” pointing to the luggage bags. “And that’s my laundry,” pointing to the laundry bag and two large trash bags full of bedding,

“I need to wash my sheets and comforter. They don’t fit in the dorm washing machines.

“Hermione, here comes your professor,” Kat sung out in a teasing tone.

Hermione turned and saw Harry just a few yards away.

“Hi, Harry,” she said in a causal tone, picking up one of the large bags of dirty laundry and carrying it over to the car.

Harry walked a little faster and said as he grabbed the other large bag of dirty laundry, “Here, let me help you with those,” nearly crashing into Hermione as she went for it.

Harry picked the bag up and put it into the back of the car, looking at Mr. Granger, “Hello, Mr. Granger, sir. Taking Hermione home?” He turned to Kat. “I thought you were going to give Hermione a ride.”

“I was. Now she’s giving me a ride. I’m spending the holidays with her family…”

“What about your boyfriend?”

“We broke up,” Kat said sadly.

“Well we’ll try to make it a happy holiday for you Kat. We have all the decorating to do. That should keep you girls busy. We are going to have a merry holiday Hermione grandmother coming. The more the merrier I always say.”
Kat turned to Harry and asked, “What are you doing for the holiday, governor?” in her best English accent.

Harry looked like a deer caught in the headlights, “Eh… I was… staying here, I guess.”

Hermione looked at her father with questioning expression on her face.

Her father nodded and said,
“Oh, Harry, come join us for Christmas dinner,” Mr. Granger insisted.

“Oh no, sir, that’s not necessary…” Harry began.

“Oh no, I insist, Harry. After all you’ve done for me, saving my legs and helping Hermione with ….. you know, it’s the least we can do,” Mr. Granger said.

Harry glanced at Hermione for a moment, one long moment during which they only saw each other - the whole world faded away. Hermione felt a shock wave go through her as Harry’s eyes showed his hunger. Hermione’s face went red and her entire body flared up like a roaring fire.

“Yeah. Sure, I’ll come,” Harry said, nodding. “You want me to bring anything?”

“Just yourself,” Mr. Granger said.


Just then Cedric walked by with Lavender Brown. His arm was around her shoulders and they were talking softly to each other in an , intimate way.

“I guess Cedric and Cho broke up,” Harry said loud enough so Hermione could hear him, and then added in a tone as if to say I-told-you-so, “but I don’t think Cho knows it yet.”

“Bastard,” Hermione hissed.

“I never really like him, he is an okay guy but...” Harry commented, looking at her, “you could do so much better than him, Hermione. He was always looking for the next catch.”

Hermione didn’t want to hear anymore about Cedric, but she did want to stay and talk to Harry or just look at him - his dark hair, green eyes, and fair skin.

Kat nudged Hermione, “Come on, Hermione, let’s get out of here and get shopping. I’m depressed. I need to shop.”

As Kat reached to pick up her bag, Harry took it from her and put it in the back of the van, “I’ll get that for you.”

The girls got in the car, Hermione in the front with her dad and Kat in the back.

“See you in few days, Harry,” Mr. Granger called out. He started to drive away.

“I’ll see you at Christmas,” Harry yelled as he waved.

Hermione looked back watching the figure of Harry grow smaller and farther away.

Kat looked at her with an ‘I know you like him smile’ on her lips humming a tune on her iPod. Hermione blushed.